Recommendation for HDV vtr or camcorder for batch capture

I currently own Premiere Pro CS3 and am using the trial version for PP CS4 on a Mac. One of my biggest problems is batch capturing HDV footage with my Sony HVR-Z7U HDV Camcorder or HVR-M15AU HDV Deck. It just doesn't work properly for CS3 and was disappointed to find out it doesn't work for CS4 either (unless it's a trial version issue?). Both versions I can capture on the fly, but not a batch capture. Even the adobe website say's so. So my question is, what reasonably priced HDV camcorder or VTR can I get that is compatible (let me batch capture) with both versions? Does anybody know? Thank you.

The problem I've found when capturing from the M15 is that the deck does FF and REW at such high speed that it frequently overshoots the mark by as much as two minutes, and then ends up capturing about one minute off. I usually only discover this when I look at the captured clip and find it isn't at all what I said it was when I named it.
So I just take the clip offline and recapture. This usually works. Sometimes I will manually cue the deck up to about one minute before the "in" point, and this helps the deck/Premiere find the correct timecode.
Anyhow, that's my workaround. I have handles set at 150 frames and pre- and post-roll set to the same.
(But note this is for CS3, although I assume this part is the same with CS4.)

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    Message was edited by: Edward A. Oates
    Message was edited by: Edward A. Oates

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    That seems like it would be a pain to work with though.
    My questions are,
    1-What is the absolute minimum you would work with?
    2-What would you suggest working with?
    Thanks,
    jack

    Hi Jack,
    I really do not think it is possible to answer these questions in general, as expectations will differ. Also: is that editing including colour correction or will that be done externally? What is the target medium? This pretty much defines the monitoring capabilities needed... and so on.
    I have edited HDV on a G4 1.5GHz PowerBook with 1.5 GB RAM (dictated by the need to show something to the client at the end of the day) using a LaCie FW800 hard disk. It does work, but it is painfully slow, even considering that the actual FW800 throughput on a G4 is better than on a G5.
    I also gave it a shot on my iMac 2.0 GHz with 1.5 GB RAM (which I normally exclusively use for doing music with LogicPro). Performance is OK, but it cannot be extended with PCI cards, does not have sufficient resolution for 1:1 display of 1080i and it only supports mirror mode for external monitors... that's pretty much the end of the story.
    I have tried several configurations and this is what I ended up with and for the time being I am happy with it: PM Dual 2.7GHz with 6.5 GB RAM, added FW800 PCI card (to have separate busses for external HD and HDV) and DecklinkHD Pro card (single-link), HDLink adapter to monitor on a second 23" Cinema Display, G-Tech 1GB FW800 disk. I capture directly from the HVR-Z1 because the price/value relation of the Sony HDV deck is a joke. It is cheaper to get a FX1 just to use it as a deck and a door stop if needed.
    So, back to your question, a system used for HDV editing must be expansible, so IMHO the PowerMac is the only thing that makes sense. Performance-wise the smallest model should be ok. I found (I increased RAM incrementally starting at 2.5GB) going from 2.5GB to 4.5GB a big improvement, going from 4.5GB to 6.5GB not relevant (anyhow the 6.5GB make a big difference using eg. Motion). I might be too extreme here, but I want to preview my stuff 1:1, so using a DecklinkHD together with HDLink and a second 23" CinemaDisplay is currently the most convenient option I know of... of course this is for editing, not for colour correction. That's why I went for the Pro version of the Decklink (it has analogue out). It allows me to use a regular SD monitor.
    HTH,
    Uwe

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